Film strip handling apparatus



1940. R. s. o'r'ro 2,212,617

FILM STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 14. 1937 4 s t s t 1 Ira-.1

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7, 1940. R. s. OTTO FILM STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1 937 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0%5 @670 XA ATTOaEY Aug. 27, 1940. R. s. OTTOFILM STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3IIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIllIIIII/III/I/IIIIIIIII INVENTOR. 5 y ATTO%EY Aug. 27,1940. R. s. OTTO 2,212,617

FILM STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1937 4 s t s t 4 tillPatented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM s'mn HANDLINGAPPARATUS Roy S. Otto, West Los Anzeies, Calif. Application June 14,1937. Serial No. 148,172 14 Claims. (Cl. 179-1003),

This invention relates to an automatic film feed mechanism adaptedfor-use in conjunction with a standard sound-head to facilitate the useof the sound reproducing unit for re-recording, sound film broadcast,music timing, photograph cueing, sound inspection work and likeoperations.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which makes itpossible to run the sound film repeatedly without necessitating removingthe film from the machine after running for rewinding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a counting mechanism to afilm reel and associating an electrical circuit controlling device withthe counting mechanism in such a way that the circuit of the motordriving the film reel or pulling the film from said reel is controlledby the counting mechanism when a predetermined amount of film is addedto or subtracted from the film reel.

A further object of this invention is to provide film reeling andunreeling device which automatically reels or unreels a given amount offilm.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a motor driven filmhandling device in which circuit controlling apparatus is provided tothe device for starting and stopping the movement of this film afterpredetermined conditions in said movement are attained.

Still a. further object of this invention is to provide an automaticfilm feed mechanism adapted to be used with a standard sound-head toenable and facilitate the use of the standard A, sound-head forre-recording, sound film broadcasting, music timing, photograph cueing,sound inspection and similar work.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic filmhandling device in which the emission film spindle is fitted with amotor drive and an automatic stop-switch mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic filmhandling device which is adapted to be adjusted to fulfill predeterminedwinding or unwinding conditions in the handling of film, automatically.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification, drawings and claims to those skilled in the artto which this invention relates.

In accordance with this invention I provide an arrangement thatautomatically and accurately controls the operation of the reeling andunreeling of a film strip between two reels of a motion picture orsimilar device. The apparatus of my invention may be employed forreeling or unreeling strips other than film, where accuracy is required,automatically.

My invention is relatively simple in operation. An auxiliary motor isemployed for driving the emission film reel to control the rewinding ofthe film strip, that is, for rewinding this strip upon the aforesaidemission reel. This motor is controlled by a pair of switches, one ofwhich is operatively associated with a Veeder type counter attached tothe emission reel spindle and the other of which is associated with anidling spool a fiacent to the film feed sprocket.

The operation and construction of a preferred form of my invention willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it relatesfrom the following specification when read in conjunction with thedrawings forming a part thereof.

Referring to the drawings, briefly, Fig. 1 is a view showing the workingparts of the machine of my invention, assembled; Fig. 2 is a view of themain film feed mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along theline 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional, detail view of the unbalancedroller operated switch included in the main film feed mechanism; Fig.5is an end view of the switch shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a rear view ofthe emission film spindle; Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along theline ll of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 so is a partial sectional view taken along theline 88 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view of the frictional take-up bracketassembly; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Iii-40 ofFig. 9; Fig.

11 is a detail view of the driving mechanism employed in the frictionaltake-up device; Fig.

12 is a schematic diagram of connections for the emission reel drivingmotor; Fig. 13 is a schematic drawing of the running threading of thefilm through the machine and Fig. 14 is a schematic drawing of therewinding threading of the film through the machine.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a view of my invention as appliedto a film sound record reproducing machine. The members i and 9, 5 whichare preferably castings of suitable metallic or plastic material, areemployed to support film reel spindles! and 8, respectively. The reelsupported on spindle 2 is the emission film reel. This spindle is fittedwith a motor drive for rewinding the film and an automatic stop switchmechanism as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The spindle 8 carries the filmtake-up reel and is driven by the belt Illa. from the pulley l0 mainfilm feed mechanism supported by the frame 3,

shown in Fig. 3. line pulley I8 is mounted on the same shaft as the gearwheel 5 and is driven by the motor I the shaft In. of which is connectedby a ,suitable reduction gear train to the gear 5. The housing 6 isprovided to house the sound head of a standard theater type apparatus.This includes a light sensitive cell 6b, a light source and suitableguides for passing the sound film between the cell and the light source.The path of the film through the sound head is schematically illustratedin Fig. 13 and will be further described in conjunction therewith.

Attached to the side of the housing 6 is a bracket for supporting themotor I. An adaptor casting 6a is provided to the bottom of theaforesaid housing to facilitate direct pedestal mounting to the soundhead.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a detail view of the main film feed mechanismassembled on a frame 3 of metallic material. This unit employs asprocket ,wheel 4 which is mounted ona suitable shaft journaled in theframe 3, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is driven by the gearwheel 5 which is geared to the motor 1. A pulley It, the purpose ofwhich will be described in the following paragraphs of thespecification, is also mounted on the shaft carrying the aforesaidsprocket wheel 4. Suitable pad rollers II and I2 are mounted on eachside of the sprocket wheel 4. These double pad rollers II and I2 arecarried by arms I3 and I4, respectively, and straddle the sides of thesprocket wheel 4. Arms l5 and I6 are attached to the arms l3 and I4,respectively and are pivotally attached to the bearing members I! andI8, respectively which are provided with suitable spring members tomaintain the double pad rollers slightly bearing upon the sprocket 4.Guide rollers l9 and 20 are supported by suitable bearings above andslightly to the sides of the sprocket wheel 4. The guide roller l9functions to guide the film as it is fed from the emission reel.supported on the spindle 2 to the sprocket 4-which feeds it into thesound head which is positioned directly below the frame 3 as shown inFig. 1. The film passing into the sound head is drawn by the sprocketwheel 4 under the double pad rollers I l and as this same sprocket wheel4 withdraws the film from the sound head the film is passed over theaforesaid sprocket wheel under the double pad'rollers l2 and over theguide roller 20 and is wound upon the reel carried by the motor drivenspindle 8. This motor driven spindle 8, is more completely illustratedin Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

After a certain amount of film is reeled from the spindle 2 through thesound head upon the spindle 8 and it is desired to reverse the operationand rewind the film from the spindle 8 back to the'spindle 2, thefilmloop or the end of the film is passed or threaded under the switchactuating spool 2| to the reel on the spindle 2. This reel is driven bythe motor 22 by means of a pulley 23, attached to the shaft of themotor,and a belt 24 which is operatively associated with the aforesaid pulley23 and the spindle pulley 25, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The operation ofthe motor 22 is controlled by two switches 26 and 21 which are connectedin series. Both of the switches are of the mercury contact type. Theswitch 26 is mounted in the housing 28 which carries: the shaft 29 ofthe spool 2|. This switch is provided with a spring pressure device 38attached to the end of the shaft 29. The aforesaid spring pressuredevice 30 employs a spring 3| held on the 7 end of the shaft by asuitable cap-nut 32 so that the spring presses against the frictionwasher 33 and provides a slight friction between the spool 2| and thefriction washer 34. The purpose of this friction or slip clutch deviceis to enable the spool 2| to rotate on the shaft 23 and also at the sametime rotate the housing 28 through a slight angle determinedby the lever35 and the stops 36, in order that the mercury switch 23 may bemaintained in a tilted position and the circuit therethrough closedwhile the film is being passed under and in engagement with the spool2|. The housing 28 is provided with a counterbalancing weight 31 whichmay be incorporated directly in the housing itself, and which functionsto return the switch 26 into open circuit position after the filmisdisengaged from the spool 2| or if the movement of the film shouldstop.

The housing 28 is supported by ball-bearings 38 and 39 upon the bearingmember 40 which is provided with a thread section 4|. This threadsection is passed through the hole 44 in the frame 3 and a nut 42 isemployed to draw and hold the aforesaid bearing member to andagainst theframe 3, tightly. The leads 43 connected to the switch 26 are passedthrough the inside of the member 40, which is bored out to permit theseleads to be led therethrough to the motor control or external electricalcircuit which is schematically illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Figs. 6. 7 and 8 I have illustrated details of the emission reelsupporting mechanism and the motor drive employed in this mechanism inaccordance with my invention. This mechanism is supported by the arm Iupon the frame 3 and in order to accomplish this the arm I is bolted orotherwise attachedto this frame. This arm is attached to the frame 3 atan angle as shown in Fig. 1 so that the film from the spindle 2 may bemore conveniently passed to the guide roller l9 and the sprocket 4 asdescribed in conjunction with description of Fig. 2. The film reel issupported upon the spindle 2 and locked into place by a small lever 2bin a conventional manner. This spindle 2 is supported by suitableball-bearings and 5| which are fitted into the housing 52. The Veedercounter 53 is operatively connected to one end of the shaft 2 so thatthe rotations of this shaft may be counted and indicated by this Veedercounting mechanism. The switch 21 which is connected to the circuit ofthe motor 22 as shown in Fig. 12 is positioned adjacent to the counter53 and is supported by the member 54 which is connected by the pin 55 tothe Veeder counter. This pin 55 is fastened to the switch support 54 andfunctions to tilt the mercury switch 21 and its support 54 after one orany predetermined number of rotations are imparted to the shaft 2 and tothe indicating mechanism of the counter. For this purpose the pin 55 ismade to engage an internal gear dog formed on the number wheel 53a ofthe counter 53. The Veeder counter 53 is employed to indicate the numberof turns of film that have been removed from the reel mounted on thespindle 2 and the mechanism is adjusted in such a way that the circuitin the switch 21 is closed by tilting this switch as soon as one turn offilm has been removed from the reel. The purpose of this will be more.fully described in the operation of this apparatus. A reset knob 56 isalso provided to the counter device for the purpose of resetting thisdevice when desired. The pulley 25 is mounted on the shaft 2 and isconnected by means of the belt 24 to the pulley 23 of the motor 22 whichis mounted by suitable bolts 51 on the arm'l directly below the Veederhousing 52.

The armature 60 of the motor 22 is slightly displaced with respect tothe pole faces 6| by means of the thrust bearing 59 so that the face ofthe pulley 28 rubs against the brake-pad 62 when the motor is not beingelectrically energized. When the motor is electrically energized themagnetic field set-up by the windings thereof shifts the armature 60into alignment with the pole faces against the pressure of the spring 58and the thrust bearing 59 so that the pulley 23 disengages the brake-pad62. The purpose of applying the braking action to the pulley 23 when themotor 22 is not electrically energized is to prevent the film from beingunreeled from the spindle '2 too easily and thereby prevent the filmfrom becoming tangled. When the motor 22 is energized this brakingaction is automatically removed and the reel on the spindle 2 is rotateddirectly by the motor 22 to'wind film from the reel of spindle 8 uponthe reel ofspindle 2 as illustrated schematically in Fig. 14.

Suitable braking action is applied to the reel on spindle 8 through themechanism illustrated in detail in Figs 9, 10 and 11.

The shaft 8 is driven through a friction clutch mechanism by the belt|8a from the pulley ll) of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. The belt [6aengages the pulley 65 which is provided with a number of pins 66engaging one of the clutch members 61. The clutch member 61 may be movedparallel with the shaft 8 away from the pins 66 against the tension ofthe spring 68. However, the pins 66 cause the member 6'! to be rotatedwith the pulley 65 when these pins are in engagement with member 61. Thetension of the spring 68 may be adjusted by the nut 69 which engagesthreads formed on the end of the shaft 8 so that the friction betweenthe brakepad 18 and the clutch member 61 may be adjusted. The clutchmechanism includes a clutch plate 1| which is keyed to the shaft 8 andwhich carries the brake-pad Ill.

In operation the belt Illa rotates the pulley 65 which in turn rotatesthe clutch member 61 and transmits angular motion to the clutch platethrough the brake-pad 78, which in turn rotates the shaft 8 in thebearings 12. The film reel supported by the shaft or spindle 8 is thusrotated and caused to wind up the film strip passed out of the feedingmechanism supported by the frame 8.

During the reproduction of the sound record carried by the filmsupported by the reel upon the spindle 2, the film 2a is threadedthrough the machine over the guide roller IS, in engagement with thesprocket wheel 4 and over the photoelectric cell housing 6b through thesound head 6 and up around the opposite side of the sprocket wheel 3,over the guide roller 20 and to the reel supported on the spindle 8, asillustrated in Fig. 13. During the movement of this film 2a through thesound head the sprocket 4 and the spindle 8 are driven by the motor l.The film is therefore, unreeled from the spindle 2 against the brakingaction applied between the pulley 23 and the brake-pad 62 of the motor22,

as shown in Fig. 7. At the same time the Veeder counter 53 indicates thenumber of turns of film being removed from the reel of spindle 2. Duringthis operation, that is, while the film is being unreeled from spindle 2the circuit of the mercury switch 21 is closed and the circuit ofmercury switch 26, carried by the pulley 2|, is opened. When the film isreeled on spindle 8 and is to be reeled back on spindle 2 the film loopis removed from the sound head 6 and placed under the spool 2|. When thefilm loop is tightened around the spool 2| by turning the emission reelin the rewind direction and all of the slack taken out of the film thespool 2| tilts the switch housing 28 until the lever 35 associatedtherewith, is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 14, the circuit ofthe switch 26 is closed and motor 22 energized so that the reel ofspindle 2 is driven by the motor 22 and the film carried by the reel ofspindle 8 is wound upon the reel of spindle 2. The circuit of the motor22 is de-energized after the switch 21 is tilted to its original openposition through the operation of the Veeder counter 58, that is, afterthe film has been rewound upon the reel of spindie 2. The tilting ofthis switch 21 may be adjusted by the operator to occur when the samenumber of turns are wound back upon the reel of spindle 2 as wereremoved therefrom and placed upon the reel of spindle 8. The switch 26is employed for closing the circuit of the motor 22 to start this motorwhile the switch 21 is employed to stop the motor. It is of courseobvious that the switch 26 may also stop the motor, for example when thefilm strip passing over the spool 2| is broken and tension is removedfrom the spool 2|.

Where desired the spool 2| and sprocket 4 may be combined to the extentthat the switch 26 may be actuated by a suitable friction or similarcoupling from the shaft 4a or from the sprocket 4. In this case theswitch 26 is also in open cir-.

cuit position when film is wound from spindle 2 to spindle 8 and inclosed circuit position when film is being rewound from spindle 8 tospindle 2. It is however preferred not to use a tooth sprocket for thespool 2| during rewinding although this type of sprocket may be used inhandling other strip or tape-like materials. Furthermore the spool 2|may be mounted on the member 4 if desired. The whole apparatus orseparate units thereof also may be enclosed in suitable fireproofhousings.

It is of course obvious that modifications in the details ofconstruction of my invention may be made without departing from thespirit and scope thereof. Therefore I do not desire to limit thisinvention to the exact details illustrated except insofar as thosedetails may be defined by the claims.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film emission reel,means for removing film from said film emission reel, a take-up reel forreceiving the film removed from said emission reel, a counter device forcounting the turns of film removed from said emission reel, a circuitcontrolling device connected to said counter device, an electric motorhaving means for driving said emission reel for rewinding the filmremoved from said emission reel back on said emission reel, and meansfor connecting said circuit controlling device to said motor forstopping said motor when a predetermined number of turns are wound onsaid emission reel.

2. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel, a motorfor driving said reel, a counter device actuated by the rotation of saidfilm reel, a switch connected to said counter device to be controlled inaccordance with the operation of said counter device when said counterdevice is manipulated to indicate predetermined readings and means forconnecting said switch to said motor for stopping said motor after apredetermined number of turns of film measured by said counting deviceare reeled upon said film reel.

3. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel, a shaftfor said reel, a counting device connected to said shaft for countingthe turns through which said reel is rotated, an electric circuitcontrolling device connected to said counting device for controlling acircuit after a predetermined number of rotations are imparted 1D tosaid film reel, means for adjusting said counting device so that saidcircuit controlling device may be operated after diflerent preselectednumbers of rotations of said reel, a motor connected to rotate said filmreel and means connected to v the circuit of said circuit controllingdevice to interrupt the rotation of said film reel by said motor afterthe aforesaid predetermined number of rotations have been imparted tosaid reel by said motor.

0 4. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel having asound film reeled thereon, a shaft for said film reel, a counting deviceconnected to said shaft for counting the turns through which said reelis rotated, a sprocket for drawing film from said reel, a frame forsupporting said sprocket, sound reproducing apparatus for reproducingsound from said sound film, means for supporting said frame on saidsound reproducing apparatus whereby the sound film drawn from said reelmay be fed by said sprocket into said sound reproducing apparatus, atakeup reel for receiving'the film passing through said soundreproducing apparatus, means for driving said sprocket and said take-upreel, an electric motor connected to said first mentioned reel forrewlnding the sound film upon said first mentioned reel from saidtake-up reel, and an electrlc circuit controlling device connected tosaid counting device for controlling the rotation of 40 said firstmentioned reel by said motor after a predetermined rotation of saidfirst mentioned reel by said motor and means for adjusting said countingdevice .so that said circuit controlling device may be operated afterdifferent preselected numbers of rotations of said first mentioned reel.

5. In sound film reproducing apparatus, the combination of a filmemission reel having a sound film thereon, means for removing film fromsaid film emission reel, means for reproducing "said sound film, atake-up reel, means for winding the film removed from said emission reelupon said take-up reel, a counter device for counting the turns of filmremoved from said emission reel, a circuit controlling device connectedto said counter device, an electric motor having means for driving saidemission reel for rewinding the film from said take-up reel back on saidemission reel, and means for connecting said circuit controlling deviceto said motor for stopping said motor when a predetermined number ofturns determined by said counter are wound back on said emission reel.

6. In film handling apparatus, the combination oi a film reel, a shaftfor said reel, a counting device connected to said shaft, a motor fordriving said reel, a counter device actuated by the rotation of saidcounting device, a switch connected to said counter device to becontrolled in accordance with the operation of said counter device,

means for setting said counter device to operate said switch after apredetermined number of revolutions have been imparted thereto and meansfor connecting said switch to said motor for stopping said motor whensaid switch is operated.

" a 7. In sound film reproducing apparatus, the

combination of a film emission reel having a sound film thereon, a shaftfor said reel, a counting device connected to said shaft. for countingthe turns through which said reel is rotated, means for drawing filmfrom said reel, an elecg tric circuit controlling device connected tosaid counting device for controlling av circuit after a predeterminednumber of rotations are imparted to said reel, means for adjustingsaid'coun'ting device so that said circuit controlling device may is beoperated after difierent' preselected numbers of rotations of said reel;means for reproducing said sound film as said film is drawn from saidreel, a motor connected to rotate said reel to rewind the film takenfrom said reel back th'ere- 251 on and meansconnected to the circuit ofsaid circuit controlling device automatically to interrupt the rotationof said film reel by said motor after the same amount of film is rewoundon said reel as was removed therefrom. 1 9a 8. In film handlingapparatus, the combination of a film reel having a sound film reeledthereon, a shaft for said reel, a counting device connected to saidshaft for counting the turns through which said reel is rotated, asprocket for as drawing film from said reel, a frame for supporting saidsprocket, sound reproducing apparatus for reproducing sound from saidsound film. means for supporting said frame on said sound reproducingapparatus whereby the sound film m drawn from said reel may be fed bysaid sprocket into said sound reproducing apparatus, a take-up reel forreceiving the film passing through said sound reproducing apparatus,means for driving said sprocket and said take-up reel, an electric motorconnected to saidvfirst mentioned reel for rewlnding the sound, filmupon said first men-r tioned reel from said take-up reel, and an electric circuit controlling device connected to said counting device forautomatically stopping the 40 rotation of said first mentioned reelafter the same amount of film is rewound on said first mentioned reel aswas removed therefrom and means for adjusting said counting devicesothat said circuit controlling device may be operated 46' after differentpreselected numbers of rotations of said first mentioned reel.

9. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film emission reel,means for removing film from said film emission reel, -a take-up reelfor 50 receiving the film removed from said emission reel, a counterdevice for countingfthe turns of film removed from said emission reel, amercury switch, means attached to said'switch and said counting devicefor tilting saidswitch when-said to counting device is actuated by theremoval of filmfrom said emission reel, an electric motor having meansfor driving-said emission reel for rewinding the film removed from saidemission reel back thereon, means for connecting said, mercury so switchto said motor for stopping said motor when:

a predetermined number of turns are'wound on said emission reel, anauxiliary switch connected in series with said mercury switch, and meansconnected to said auxiliary switch for maintains5 ing it closed onlyduring the rewlnding of the. film. v 10. In film handling apparatus, thecombination of a film reel, a motor for driving said reel.

a counter device actuated by the rotation of: said 70 film reel, aswitch connected to said counter device to be controlled in accordancewith the operation of said counter device when said counter device ismanipulated to indicate predetermined readings, means for connectingsaid switch to said motor for stopping said motor after a predeterminednumber of turns of film measured by said counting device are reeled uponsaid film reel, an auxiliary switch connected in series with said firstmentioned switch, and means connected to said auxiliary switch formaintaining it closed only during the reeling of said film.

11. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel, anelectric circuit controlling device connected to said film reel forcontrolling a circuit after a predetermined number of rotations areimparted to said film reel, a motor connected to rotate said film reeland means connected to the circuit of said circuit controlling device tointerrupt the rotation of said film reel by said motor after theaforesaid predetermined number of rotations have been imparted to saidreel by said motor, an auxiliary switch connected in series with saidcircuit controlling device, and means connected to said auxiliary switchfor maintaining it closed only during the reeling of film on said filmreel.

12. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel having asound film reeled thereon, a sprocket for drawing film from said reel, aframe for supporting said sprocket, sound reproducing apparatus forreproducing sound from said sound film, means for supporting said frameon said sound reproducing apparatus whereby the sound film drawn fromsaid reel may be fed by said sprocket into said sound reproducingapparatus, a take-up reel for receiving the film passing through saidsound reproducing apparatus, means for driving said sprocket and saidtake-up reel, an electric motor connected to said first mentioned reelfor rewinding the sound film upon said first mentioned reel from saidtake-up reel, an electric circuit controlling device connected to saidfirst mentioned reel for controlling the rotation of said firstmentioned reel by said motor after a predetermined rotation of saidfirst mentioned reel by said motor, an auxiliary switch connected inseries with said circuit controlling device, and means connected to saidaux iliary switch for maintaining said auxiliary switch closed onlyduring the rewinding of said film from said take-up reel.

13. In strip material reeling and unreeling apparatus, the combinationof a pair of reels, spindies for supporting said reels, a countingmechanism, a switch connected to said counting mechanism to be openedand closed by the operation of said counting mechanism, a motorconnected to said last mentioned one of said spindles, connectionsbetween said switch and said motor, a braking device for said motor andsaid last mentioned spindle for placing a load thereon when said motoris not being energized, a feeding mechanism for feeding strip materialfrom one of said pair of reels, means for driving the other of said pairof reels for receiving the strip material from said feeding mechanism,said last mentioned means being connected to said feeding mechanism,means for connecting said counting mechanism to one of said reels, aswitch operating spool in said feeding mechanism adapted to engage thestrip material after a predetermined quantity of strip material is woundfrom said first mentioned of said pair of reels to the other of saidpair of reels, a switch for said spool, means for closing the circuit ofsaid last mentioned switch when said strip material engages said spoolunder tension, connections between said last mentioned switch, saidmotor and said first mentioned switch whereby said motor is energizedand caused to reel the strip material back on said first of said pair ofreels, said counting mechanism being connected to said first switch tointerrupt said motor circuit when said strip material is rewound on saidlast mentioned reel.

14. In film handling apparatus, the combination of a film reel, a shaftfor said reel, a counting device connected to said shaft for countingthe turns through which said reel is rotated, a motor coupled to saidshaft, a switch connected to said counting device and to said motor forcontrolling the circuit of said motor after a predetermined number ofrotations are imparted to said film reel, an idling spool engaging stripmaterial being wound on said reel, an auxiliary switch, a frictioncoupling between said idling spool and said auxiliary switch to maintainsaid auxiliary switch closed as long as strip material is in engagementwith said idling spool and connections between said auxiliary switch andsaid motor.

ROY S. OTTO.

